Happy saturday and YOTA SAL

The flowers are winding down due to the hot HOT weather. A record 109 degrees on june 29. But, we do have a few blooms!

 We planted this hydrangea bush last year and had blue blooms. This late bloomer now has pink blooms. After reading up on them a little, we found out that color is determined by soil and fertilizer. We fertilize with Best Bloom every 2 weeks. The hibiscus and roses also love this fertilizer.

 One of  my garden buddies!

On to stitching! This is my UFO YOTA piece. This month I got the castle outlined, ring stitched and outlined. His hands, however, are giving me fits. Will try to get those done in the coming month. If you like to join this UFO SAL here is the link. http://pulltheotherthread.blogspot.com/p/yota-year-of-acronyms.html   Am now in 3 different UFO SAL's and they are helping me stay on tract to finish and not create any more of them.

Before

After

Had a few small finishes. They include 4 of the Margaret Sherry kitties for cards. These were fun to stitch. I made more of the card fronts. After a rough 2 weeks I have decided to stitch some cards for friends and family.

Also finished my glove box take away project.

WIP's include     The letter A from Brooke's Brooks alphabet freebie

Worked on 2 HAED's this month The cookies are finally starting to fill in.

 Actually worked on Fun Guys stocking for 3 weeks this month.

 And a new start! I loved this Mirabilia's Silver Moon Tea since it was released last year. Didn't care for the models fabric color. Then while I was rummaging around, for something new to do, I found this fabric in a bin. Light bulb goes on and I dig out Silver from the book case. Am thinking of not stitching the gray sky and let the fabric color be the sky. Will see once I get that far.

  This is an embroidery UFO dresser scarf. The greenery was mostly done, no flowers.

I got the flowers embroidered and couldn't decide what colors to use for the centers. Wanted to do something other than satin stitching. Was trying to find enough of one color of pearls and matching beads. Then brilliant Karen told me to look at my garden for color inspirations. And boy was she right! The result is different colors and sized of beads for brightening up the flower centers. Will be forever thankful to Karen for this great idea.

 Another UFO SAL is Brooke's Books bb interactive group. Has helped me stay with this and hope to finish the pepper pillow this year.

Je had a very early birthday gift delivery from my best friend in France. I mentioned to Michelle that I had bought a big bunch of baby clothes for the new grand daughter due in october. Sears had their Carters baby clothes for 60 percent off. And, well... being a grandma, how could I pass up a sale like that!!! Michelle said she had a few things for GD Lily and new baby. Here are the sweet things Michelle sent to us!

I cried when I saw this sweet fuzzy sleeper with the appliqued animals. Absolutely adorable and will be great for a winter/autumn baby's birth. Michelle also sent Lily a cute Hello Kitty bag and candy. Some disney socks for baby and a beautiful ceramic plaque for her, too.

A beautiful card with Lily's name on it.

 Bright colored bibs, too!

 Michelle really spoiled me with her box full of goodies. The fruit cakes were luscious and a great snack. The Abbey big biscuit cookies are my favorite with the fruit cakes. We have some new friends moving into the house! A winter mouse, pretty kitty cat and a much needed doctor mouse. The lady bug slipper is also one of my favorite slippers Michelle has knitted.

My birthday is not until september. Since Michelle was sending a box with gifts for the babies, all the way from France, that she would send birthday gifts along as well. Everything was packaged so beautifully in satin bags and wonderful turquoise color gift wrap.

 When stitching the HAED designs I have to be very careful. Some symbols are very similar and mistakes can be made very easily. I have a cheap set of Wal mart glasses to fit over my regular glasses. This beautiful eye glass necklace will come in handy for the second pair I keep losing.

 This is what the glass container is for. Michelle's cute slippers. Now I can see them and they are not jumbled up in a small container. Much nicer display with this 3 tiered beauty.

  Here is a very cute kitty purse, an eye glass case with a very soft cloth for cleaning glasses. A wonderful little zipper case with a big tote bag with handles. All great to carry in small handbags.

Michelle's mother sent a gorgeous soft covered personal care case.

 Very nice quality tweezers and utensils.

 These little baby's are the dry version of a hot water bottle. One is filled with cherry pits/seeds and the other with lavender seeds. Put them in the microwave, without the fuzzy cover, with a 1/2 glass of water for moisture. They stay warm for some time and great for sore limbs/muscles. The extra added weight of Morty the cat was not therapeutic, however. Once DH took him outside for a climb up a tree, the french "kettle" was soothing.

  2 new friends are on the kitchen shelf and winter mouse is in the living room cabinet with her new friends.

The gifts didn't end there. Michelle also send a lot of DMC threads. Have you ever come across 24 yard DMC floss skeins? 

 These are older discontinued skein from a neighbor of Michelle's mom. Colors are bright and beautiful.

 Also, 2 pair of DMC scissors. Very good quality metals.

 Assorted threads and wonderful fabrics.

Michelle, thank you so much. You spoiled me greatly and I very much appreciate everything.

I mentioned that it had been a rough 2 weeks. My best friend Michelle and her mother have been having scary health issues. I think of them every day. Then my mother calls me on a wednesday night. Nonchalantly tells me she is scheduled for surgery, friday morning, for removal of a cancerous tumor. AND may need chemo..... This is difficult to explain. My brother, son and I live miles away from mom. On a good day we maybe, and thats a big maybe, are able to get flights out and make arrangements to keep things running smoothly while we are gone. But, I wanted to reach through the phone and spank her like an errant child. For some reason mom thinks hiding serious health issues will keep us from being upset. Quite the opposite. We were all upset and floundering around trying to figure out what to do. My son and I came up with a plan. As it turns out the removal of the tumor went smoothly and the removed lymph nodes tested clear of cancer.  It did get us all thinking of a plan of action to cover 1900 miles of ground quickly. When mom is in better health I will speak to her about hiding her health conditions. For the first time I realized how far away we are from one another. So parents PLEASE DON"T keep your health issues secret from your adult children and family. That leaves family scrambling for arrangements and not with a clear mind. Thank you for listening, it really has been stressful.

Happy stitching!

Deb